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In order to complete the network assignments, I decided it would be best to take advantage of the resources available to me on campus. I first visited the speech lab and then met with a career adviser at the career center. I realized that both of these resources will help further my education and my future at Grand Valley State University.

Russo, C. (2016). [Photograph]

While visiting the speech lab, I spoke with a student speech assistant. As an APR major, giving a speech or ten is not uncommon throughout each semester. Once speaking with an assistant, I learned how valuable time and preparation is, especially when giving presentations that are not based off of a campaign, etc. but rather more impromptu based. I plan on implementing speech skills such as drafting speech ideas, outlining, and practice, practice, practice. Practice is key when preparing for a presentation. By applying these skills in the speeches I normally conduct, I will continuing to improve my overall speech ability and presence.

Russo, C. (2016). [Photograph]

I had never been to the career center at Grand Valley State University. Now that I have, I plan on taking advantage of the resources offered here at GVSU. The career center offers advice and helps students in many ways. For instance, the career center offers advice and assistance to current and past students by giving advice about creating successful resumes, cover letters, etc. The career center also guides students in finding internship opportunities/networking opportunities. LinkedIn account information and building a self brand is also advice offered at the career center.

After much preparation and time spent watching the online fundamentals course (6 total sections) for Google Analytics, I took the fundamentals test. My first attempt, I only received a 17/20 which is an 85%. In order to get the actual certification in Google Analytics, every individual who takes the test must get an 80% or higher once completing the 70 question test in 90 or so minutes. I choose to retake the fundamentals test because I wanted the full credit; especially for the time taken to complete all of the video courses.

Image Credit: LinkedIn.com

Listed below are 5 job opportunities that I found listed on LinkedIn. I am not sure what the future holds for me or where I will want to be in a few years, however, positions such as Creative Director, Event Coordinator, and Copy Editor really interest me. I would love to work in a city one day, therefore, a lot of the jobs that I listed are at companies found in the Detroit/Detroit metro area. One day, I would also like to explore other cities such as Chicago. Through the degree I earn at Grand Valley, I feel I can achieve in any of these positions.

I can admit that I have an addiction problem. And what is it that I am addicted to? Two words: social media. I use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube, etc. on an hourly basis. I am especially addicted to Facebook and Instagram. Networks such as Facebook and Instagram have given me the ability to connect with friends and family all over America but have also become one of my worst demises. I have become trapped into a consistent cycle of checking my newsfeed because yes – I can admit, I suffer from FOMO. FOMO stands for the Fear of Missing Out and is an actual syndrome. According to Linda Sapadin (2015), writer for the World of Psychology blog, states,

“FOMO is especially strong for those who are hooked on social media. Why? Because they’re constantly aware of what others are doing…on social media, everyone’s flaunting what they’re doing, with whom they’re doing it and posts are loaded with exclamation marks!!! With such pressure, it’s no surprise that teens are checking their phone every two minutes to make sure they’re not missing out on anything “important”.”

The addiction to social media has become so prevalent in todays society, this behavior has become a habit. Sometimes, I find myself reaching for my phone and unlocking it only to realize I have nothing better to do or I am subconsciously unlocking my phone for no reason other than it being a normal action I perform. Of course, the social media addiction has become so current only because networks have come such a far way from just being a chat box on a gmail account.

Image credit: Twin Design/ Shutterstock.com

Social media has had such an immense impact on society today and has ultimately changed the world for the better and for the worse. Social media offers worldwide connectivity, offers individual users the chance to connect/befriend others with common interests, allows individual users the chance to communicate real-time information, and can be used as a medium to share newsworthy information (Claywell, 2013). These positives of using social networking websites don’t come without their disadvantages, however. Social media has also increased the risk of cyberbullying and crimes, the risk of fraud/identity theft, and can often times be distracting or a way to waste time (Claywell, 2013).

“86 percent [of teens] say they have changed how they use social media in some way compared to the past” (American Press Institute, 2015). As recognized by the American Press Institute, teens have changed the way in which they have used social media over time by paying more attention to privacy settings, removing embarrassing information/photos, tailoring the way different social networking platforms are used, and have even stopped using some social networking platforms in all (American Press Institute, 2015). Additionally, teens have connected more with others personally and professionally over time. Image Credit: American Press Institute

Many Millennials have become so avid in using social media, branding oneself is very common across different profiles. Specifically, the social network, Vine, has become a huge platform where “the average joe” can become internet famous just by posting a funny, clever 6 second video of themselves that loops. Large companies such as Coca-Cola

Image Credit: BBC News

or Apple have paid Vine stars to endorse their products in their videos as a way to reach other Millennials, “…advertisers are taking a risk associating themselves with uncoached youngsters thrust into the public eye…the the ballpark rate most Viners charge is about $1,000 per 100,000 followers…” (Regan, 2014).

Overall, the addiction to social media is unhealthy, but social media has been incredibly effective in keeping Millennials informed and has proven to change habits over a period of time.

Sources:

(2015, March 16). How millennials use and control social media. American Press Institute. Retrieved from https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/survey-research/millennials-social-media/

Claywell, C. (2013). Advantages and disadvantages of social networking. Retrieved from http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Social_Networking

This blog was specifically created for my CAP 105 (Technology in Public Relations & Advertising) class. While taking this class, I have not only learned how to use various programs, but I have also learned how use and create various professional pages thanks to the assignments in this course. For instance, as seen in my various blog posts, I have learned to use and apply the basics of Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and InDesign. I have created a Brand Yourself account which has allowed me the opportunity to control my online presence in relation to google searches and has allowed me the power to discard of any unwanted searches associated with my name. Due to taking this course, I have also learned how to create an AboutMe page which has helped me tie a few of my digital presences together in an online professional profile.

Although this blog has been a useful tool and the assignments associated with this blog has taught me a lot and will help me in the future once I enter the work force, I do not believe I will keep this blog. I am unsure as to whether or not this blog truly identifies me as an individual and what I can do creatively, so that is one con to keeping this blog. I created a personal brand for this blog — rom-com and romance movies, which I love, but I feel the specific category this blog is classified under, limits me and what I would like to post.

If I do decide to keep this blog, I would really like to go back and edit and perfect all of my blog posts; even if that entails me scrapping previous creations and posting new ones that I truly feel are good enough creatively as an APR major. Additionally, I would like to make this blog appear more professional as well; I would change the concept of this blog from a basic “movie blog” to a blog about me as an individual. By editing this blog tailored to who I am as a person, personally and professionally, I feel this blog could then be useful in a portfolio when applying for future jobs out of college. I will then be more drawn to the blog itself and I can post whatever I wish that relates to me, my life, and what I love to do.

If I go that route and decide to keep this blog, ultimately, I believe this blog could help me network and obtain employment, so that is a major pro to keeping this blog. This blog will not only showcase who I am as a creative individual, but will also show potential employers how diverse/familiar I am with different forms of social media; which as APR majors know, is a valuable skill set to have. This blog will also showcase my voice and portray more of my character the more freedom I have with it. Potential/future employers will hopefully view this blog as a extra portfolio and will also get a “taste” for who I am and my work ethic.

For this assignment, I had to create my very own Business Card (click the hyperlink for a crisper view) using InDesign.

My business card captures a bit of personality and color, yet the layout is also very simplistic; it isn’t too busy. I, personally, feel a business card should be visually appealing to the eye and it should also capture the personality of an employer. Here, my business card captures what I can do as an APR major in terms of basic design: The bleeding green lines stands out against the crisp, black background and leads a viewers eye to the rest of the layout; my name, specialty, image, and contact information. There is a directional circular flow of the business card.

The business card captures my personality in the way in which I like things to appear sharp but I also like when a design makes a statement as well.

Overall, I learned how to use a new program and I was able to apply basic layout skills to this assignment which allowed me to be a bit creative.

Brand Yourself is a free website that allows users to discover how highly or poorly represented they are over the internet. This cite also allows users to hide unwanted searches about themselves (and others with the same name) that they do not want seen on the internet.

Once creating a Brand Yourself account, I took the quiz. My score was a D, meaning I am poorly represented over the internet. I was not surprised with this result as I do not have a ton of social media profiles other than Facebook and Instagram. The test results were also not in my favor due to the fact that an actress has the same name as me, therefore, she was represented as the top Google searches.

The image below shows the top three recommendations Brand Yourself gave me in order to better represent myself over the internet and improve my overall score:

To better my score, I first added my Facebook as a link to use and boosted my score. I also made a LinkedIn account to help represent myself more over the internet which was also a good thing to do because I am now present in the “job world.” LinkedIn is a high quality profile to have.

Next, I published a Brand Yourself profile. This profile will allow me the access of seeing how many people are googling me and looking at my professional (in-the-works) profile.

Lastly, in order to have my own link, I created an about.me page.

By being cognoscente of websites such as Brand Yourself, it allows everyone the capability of making themselves appear in the top Google searches. This will look good to future employers and I recommend that everyone brands themselves in this way.